Garment hanger



June 6, 1950 v w, w. KEYS 2,510,587

GARMENT HANGER FiledI Aug. 22, 1946 /A/ VEN mf? WAL 775/? MK KE Y5,

/L//5 T TUR/v5 Y.

Patented june 6, v1950 Y jGimMENT HANGER iWalterlWQI'eys, Bittsfeld,iMass. Allplieallun Augurslzz, 194e, semaine; sgzjzei e t My invention lrelates "to garment hangers'and particularlyrr toY improvementsin trousers` hangers fand 'combined coat and trousers hangers.

' The iprin'cipal' obj ect *of my' invention toprovide an "improved trousers 'hanger 'of the' typein Y- Iwhich'thetrousers-engaging means are inserted finthe bottoms of the legsand vwhich''frictiona'llly l'engage Vopp'ositely disposed portions "'thereof. More1particl'llarly, the objects are to provide a 2trousers hanger 'in"which "the trousers-engaging yelernents maybe readily adjusted and positivelyf'lockeddn 'various "positions to 'accommodate trousers having 'bottoms "of different widths; to l provide,'in connection therewith, a means'where- "by'at least one'ofthetrousersfengaging elements :'m'ay 'be retracted towards'the other `element to "facilitate the removaland replacement of the trousers ^on'theihan`ger; and; at the same time, *to

provide afmeans 'for holding the trousersffirrnly `after t'heyhave been pla'c'edithereon.'

I accomplish these objects by means of the "novel combination `and arrangement of elements 'describ'ed-below'andillustrated'in'theaccompany- "ingjdraw'ing in'which':

Fig;r -1 Vis a side relevation view-of my hanger; 'Fig `2 `is `an* enlarged fragmentary section 'of Fig. V3fisga 'fragmentary longitudinaljsection vthrough'the lower left half of Fig; lto'a some- V "what enlargedscale;

Fig. 4 "is 'a fragmentary side elevation viewof lthe 'portion of the vhanger Ashown in section in Fig. 3 vbut illustrating `the trousers-engaging Ielement'iniretracted position; and

Fig. 5 is an 'exploded perspective Viewshowing the various elements going to make up my hanger jtogether with a fragmentary portion 'of the bar j uponwhich they'areassem'bled. f

Referring to the drawing: e My 'hanger comprisesan elongated bar l, pref- 'erably rectangular in cross section and provided with two, spaced, transversely-extending slots 2 'and' 3 therein. If ',desired, a single` long slot may be used `and the bar fl may comprise a portion of j r'a coat hanger 4 vprovidedwltl'la vhook 5 as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, thel bar 'and coat hanger fare molded Yas anl integral unit from a suitable plastic material; j The top ofthe 'bar l at each side'of the center thereof and adjacent the slots. is provided with" a plurality of uniformlyspaced` cylindrical vholes 6 'which are-adapted'to receive a pin If'for positively locking lthe trousers-engaging elements in Faijus-tedr position, as will be described below; Y

The trousers'eenga'gn'g*elements 8 are identical ysfciaims. (clez'assslf A'and vare formed df wire fbent as *best shown-in Figfa Thelportlonsserineelements-'sementi through the lslots -2 and 4"3 "and'may slide` freely therein. VThus, the' lements "8- are provided portions whichdependblow L-th'e'bar ateach g In order to secure'the elements; a tp `theilsar, lI 'provide' a "'p'air Ioff-sideplates ffhaving'upper flanges H and #lower filanges i| :adapted :respecthe flange 1H each'o'f the yside plates fo iis 'provided f'withjan-ups'tandiiig u'ear L3 having opehin'gsj *therethrough which "are adapted -to receive Athe fis" projections 'I 5 'on V:the l'lock 'represented 'generally V*by the numeral "16. The :lock comprises 'a filat sprin'gielexnfentr I-i to*'which-the)bent-up 'plate I8 is secured by the pin 1 which "is riveted or .e otherwise secured thereto asshown -at (9; The

outer sides of the plates` iIll` are provided with trunnions 20 which lare 'riveted lor otherwise seicure'dthereto as best shown'in Fi`g. 5.

In'lorder to secure al1-of the parts assembled rela-tion as shownin Figs. 1 Vt`o4inclusive, 'and also to providea 'means for A'retractin'g the Yleg-engaging elements -8 ,`I' provide a Afinger 4lever such as shown at 2|. The lever 2| is provided with two parallel disposed, depending'brar'ich'es 22 `-having openings 23 1in thevend thereof adapted to receive the trunnions 20 on 'the side plates I0. The lever 2| is also' vprovided Y at Aeach side *thereof with laterally-projecting, jboxlike 'por4 -f'tions 2'4 having openings j22" in the side walls thereof adapted to pass 'theends' f2'`eof 'the elements 8. it ist@ `be understeodthat 'the "nrmal distance betwe'enlthev free yends Z6-of the elements 8'and the-portions'of lsaid elements'adacent' thereto, when,Y disassembled, vis fnorin'al'ly greater than the distance Abetween lthe outside Figs.v 4v and 5' and `are provided with 'inclined vedges 'T8 as best shown-'in Fig. f2, Thus, 4morder to assemble the finger' levers"2"|-and their associated elements 8,' the free 'ends' of the elements l?D must be squeezed-together and 'forced upward- 1y past the turned in portions 21. The side plates VIl) are merely `positioned v'againstk the opposite sides of the bar lI 'withtheprojections I5'on the lockingelements :IGfpositioned inthe holes M'fof the `elements l. The depending portions 'f2'2 lof elements when assembled, --tne dat V'be adjustable.

.i bar, a, pair of elements adapted to/be inserted in inserting them in said trousersand` vremoving said trousers therefrom.

4mounted in each of said slots andprovidedwith fa depending .portion on each side of `said bar," .meansfor adjusting and lockingvsaidelements -in predetermined v.positions in said slots; and.in spaced relation to each other on V therbar to rmly and frictionally engage the bottoms of-a pairof trousers therefrom. Y. i

springs Il of the locking elements will rest on the top surface of the bar I with the pins 'I in one of the holes 6.

In operation, the distance between the trousers-engaging portions of the elements 8 may be first adjusted, so that they will engage the insides of the trousers legs firmly, by pressing downwardly on the upturned portions I8 of the locks which Will raise the pins 'I from the holes and permit the entire assemblies to be moved along the barand positively locked in adjusted position by releasing the pressure on the portions I8 so that the pins 'l will be forced downwardly into the proper hole 6 in the bar I. Preferably, the distance between the trousers-engaging elements 8 is so adjusted that it slightly exceedsthe'.' distance across the inside of the bottom of .the trousers leg when folded flat. Thus; when'the elements 8 are inserted in the trousersleggthey will tend to stretch it slightly and thus engage it .,rmly. To facilitate inserting the-elamentsn :the trousers legs. eith'erone .0r both vfthafnger levers 2l` may be raised to the position Is howr'i in Eig. 4 which will reduce the distance'betw'een the trousers-engaging" kelementsH so that they may Aloe '4 ing said elements in firm, frictional engagement with the insides of the bottoms of said trousers. 4. A garment hanger comprising an elongated bar, a pair of elements adapted to be inserted in the bottoms of a pair of trousers, means slidably mounted on said bar for securing each of said elements thereto in spaced relation to each other and depending from said bar, means for locking said securing means to said bar in predetermined spaced relation to each other and a lever cooperating with at least one of said elements and its securing means for effecting movements of said one element towards and away from the other of readily inserted in the bottoms of lthetrous'ers.

.'Ihereaften the nger levers are pushed down- .v wardly to forcetlie engagngelements" 8 iritA `firm .contact with the insides` v of the trousers legs.

1 1; 'win be freaduyaiiparnt that 'yvnereftnem movement of one only ofd the'trousers-engfagifng elements by means of its associate/d 4lever v2l is suncient to allow both. 'trousers-engaging elements 8 to beinserted i fthef.`trousers, thef'other Vsleflglt may btise@- 1-.T,1.1.11.SWhi1e..1 Prefer t0 have both ofthe engaging elements adjustable,

it is only necessary"` that one Yof* the Vsaid',elements Y -What I claim is:

l. A garment hanger (comprising an elongated and frictionally to engage the bottoms of a pair of trousers,E rn :uans for movably mounting each `of -said elements onsaidbar to slide towards and vaway fromeach other, whereby they Amay beadsaid .elements and for positively locking the elements 'in firm, friotional engagement with the insides of the bottoms of the trousers.

, 5. In a garment hanger comprising an elongated bar having a longitudinally extending slotthereimthe combination with a first trousersleg-engaging means slidably mounted in said slot -andprovided with transversely .spaced portions trousers-leg-engaging' mear'isfse/cur'ed to said .bar

in spacedrelation to said ',rs't' means 'anticom- 'pris'ing depending portionsjean ,adapted t'o'be .inserted in the bottom. of]a trousers Vleg andto cooperate with said 'first' means for"suspending said trousers; therefrom by frictional 'engagement with -the'inside bottoms vofjsaid'trousers legs,

f means slidably mounted 'on saidbar and cooperating .with said rst. means 'for locking the same invarious. positions ,on said bar, whereby said hanger may'beadjusted ,tof accommodate tr'oualsY .cooperating with said rst means and the means sers having bottomsofvarius size','and means therefrom.

6. In a trousers han-ger the character ,de-

scribed, the combinationwith an elongated bar,

justedalong the bar to engage trouser bottomsof different size,means for loekingeach of sa .id `mounting means in adjusted position, and means.

for retractingl each of said elements to facilitate 2. A garment hanger co "prising elongated bar having two, spaced transverse slots therein, atrousers-bottom-engaging element Yslidably hanging portion comprising a pair of spaced ele- Y ments disposed below said coat hangingportion and adapted to -be rinserted in the bottoms of` said trousers, and a lever Ycooperating with. atleast `one of said elements for moving said one element' 'f towards the other element to facilitatetheentrance of said elements into the bottoms of said trousers and thereafter moving saidone element. away from the other element and positively lockof elements slidably mountedon .said bar. in spaced relation to eachotherlongitudinally of said bar and adapted to beinserted .in Yand frictionally to engage the inside bottomsof the legs of said trousers to suspend said trousers therefrOm, meansfor adjusting'thespacingof said elements to allow trousers having bottoms of different size to beA readily: slipped.thereover,..and

Y means for thereafter positively forcing .saidelements apart and positively'V lockingvv them in forced-apart relation vin',firm' frictional. engagementY with the insides o f .the bottoms of vsaid trousers.

I '1. In a trousers hangermof;the-'character described comprising1 an elongated bar provided with an elongated rslotlextf ending. transversely therethrough, the combination with a trouserss leg-engaging elementcomprising. a wire extending .through said slotandhaving depending por- .tions` at eachside of said .bar adapted to be inserted in thev legs of .a pair of trousers, vof a against movement longitudinally .of saidl bar, and

a linger, lever pivotally mounted on. saidside plates and cooperatingwith said wire to `moveit back and forth in said slot and also to hold said parts in assembled relation.

8. A garment hangerof the character described comprising,anelongated bar, a pair oi trouser engaging elements each having portions for separate frietional engagement within leg bottoms of a pair of trousers, means movably mounting said elements on said bar so as to be slidabie towards and away from each other to adjust the elements'for engagement within trouser bottoms of diierent size, means for looking said mounting means in predetermined position of adjustment, and means for producing relative movement of said elements towards and away from each other in the looked position of the mounting means to facilitate inserting the elements in the bottoms of a pair of trousers and removing the trousers therefrom and to expand and lock said elements in frictional supporting 15 engagement with said trouser bottoms.

WALTER W. KEYS.

6 REFERENCES cI'TE The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 697,103 Pickhardt Apr. 8, 1902 1,272,164 Williams July 9, 1918 1,448,256 Chidley Mar. 13, 1923 2,326,256 Russell Aug. 10, 1943 2,335,285 Kinney Nov. 30, 1943 2,364,931 Vondrak et al Dec. 12, 1944 

